Electric contact device.



No. 799,896. PATENTED SEPT. 19, 1905.

' R. W. FARRINGTON.

BLEGTRIG GONTAGT DEVICE.

APPLIOATION rmm :ammV 2s. 1904.

PATENT oEEIoE.

ROBERT W. FARRINGTON, BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

ELECTRIC CONTACT DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 19, 1905.

Application filed September `23, 1904. Serial No. 225,603.

To all whom, it may con/cern.-

Beit known that I, ROBERT W. FARRINGTON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Electric Contact Devices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an electric contact device which is more particularly designed for electric trolleys, but which may also be used in electric dynamos, motors, &c.

One form of contact device heretofore in use consisted of atrolley-wheel which rotates with its periphery in contact with a conductorwire. This construction is objectionable, owing to the small amount of contact which takes place at any one time between these parts, permitting the passage of but a small amount of electricity, and therefore limiting the efficiency of the devices which are supplied with the current. It has been proposed to overcome this objection by constructing the trolley in the form of a shoe or block which slidingly engages with the conducting-wire lengthwise over a considerable extent, which' construction isalso undesirable on account of the excessive friction and wear inseparable from such an organization.

The object of this invention is to produce an electric contact device for this purpose which furnishes ample contact-surface and which practically eliminates all friction, thereby obtaining the desirable features of both the wheel and shoe Contact devices, but avoiding the undesirable features of the same.

ln the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a sectional side elevation of a trolley-wheel embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a fragmentary top plan view of the same. Figs. 3 and 4 are cross-sections of the same in lines 33and44, Fig. l.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

The body of the electric contact device shown in the drawings is preferably constructed in the form of a rotary support or wheel, which consists, essentially, of a hub A, a rim B, connected by arms b or otherwise with the hub, and two annular flanges D D, arranged on opposite sides of the rim and forming an annular channel C between the same. One of the anges is preferably formed integrally with the rim, arms, and hub, while the other iiange is made separate and detachably connected with the rim by any suitable fastening, the Ameans for this purpose shown in the drawings consisting of screws o.

F represents a plurality of bearing-shoes whereby electrical connection is established between the trolley-wheel and the trolleywire f or other electrical conductor. These shoes are arranged in an annular series or row in the channel which is formed around the periphery of the rim, each shoe having a' contact or bearing surface e on its outer side, which is straight lengthwise of the shoe and concave transversely, as shown in Figs. l and 3. Each of the bearingshoes is pivotally mounted on the wheel or support, so that the.

same can tilt or adjust itself on the wheel and permit its bearing-surface to engage its entire length at one time against the conductor-wire. For this purpose pivot-pins G are provided,

each of which extends transversely through.

their ends are journaled in the openings g of the flanges. VVhenthe shoes need to be re- -moved from the support for repairs or replaced by new ones when worn out, this can be easily and readily7 done by simply removing the detachable iiange `D from the rim of the support. `1

For the purpose of causing the shoes to normally assume a position in which they are practically parallel with the conductor-wireat the time of engaging' the same means are provided. which constantly tend to turn or tilt the shoes forwardly or in the direction which the support turns, so that the bearing-faces of the shoes are arranged obliq uel y to the periphery, or, in other words, tangentially to the axis of the suppo-rt. fected by making the rear or trailing ends of the shoes somewhat heavier than the front or advancing ends thereof. By this construction of the shoes the centrifugal force causes the rear ends of the shoes to be thrown outwardly during the forward rotation of the trolleywheel, while the front ends thereof'are swung inwardly and assume the position shown in Fig. 1.

As a substitute for' the unbalanced construction ofthe bearing-shoes or as aid thereto a pressing device is provided, which operates This is preferably ef- IOO to turn the shoes forwardly into an inclined position and also serves to hold the shoes against rattling. In its preferred form this pressing device consists of a fiat annular spring H, which is arranged in the channel of the wheel-rim below the bearing-shoes. The bottom of the channel is constructed to form alternate depressions and elevations il', the depressions being underneath the opposing free ends of the shoes, while the elevations are radially in line or opposite the pivotpins at the central partsl of the shoes. The rear end of each shoe is preferably provided with an inward extension or lug j, which bears against the spring between two elevations, and when free or unrestrained that portion of the spring by its resilience or relaxation normally moves the heavy rear end of the shoe outwardly, so that the outer bearing-surface of the same inclines forwardly. The movement of the shoes in this direction is limited by stops c, arranged underneath the front ends of the shoes and adapted to engage any suitable abutment, but preferably against the adjacent outer side of the presserspring H.

As the trolley-wheel rotates lengthwise of the conducting-wire its shoes are brought successively in engagement with the wire, each shoe in its turn bearing flatwise throughout its entire length against the wire.

In order to cause the wire to be led smoothly and noiselessly from one shoe to another, the shoes may beso constructed that they lap each other sidewise. The preferred way of doing this consists in forming a tapering tongue Z on the rear end of each shoe and projecting the same rearwardly into a correspondingshaped recess m in the front end of the next following shoe, as shown in Figs. l and 2.

The construction and operation of the shoes are such that the bearing-surface of the same .is practically parallel with the wire upon approaching and engaging the same, thereby preventing the front corners of the shoes from engaging the wire and unduly wearing the same. One shoe at least is always in contact throughout its length with the wire, while at times two shoes bear fully against the same. By this means a large surface contact between the trolley wheel and wire is at all times maintained and the free transmission of an ample amount of electric energy is permitted, thus avoiding sparking and loss of power incident to the use of trolleys and other contact devices as heretofore constructed.

Although I have shown my improved electric contact device applied to a trolley-wheel, the same is obviously applicable to other devices requiring an electric current to be conducted from a movable part to a relatively stationary part.

I claim as my inventionl. An electric contact device comprising a single rotary support, and an annular series of contact-.shoes pivoted directly on said support each provided with a Vtangential bearingface, substantially as set forth.

2. An electric contact device comprising a single rotary support, an annular series of contact-shoes each having a tangential bearing-face, and transverse pivot-pins passing directly through said shoes and support, substantially as set forth.

3. An electric contact device comprising a single rotary support, an annular series of contact-shoes pivoted directly on said support and each having a tangential bearing-face, and a spring device operating to hold said shoes yieldingly in position on said support, substantially as set forth.

4. An electric contact device comprising a single rotary support, an annular series of contact-shoes pivoted directly on said support and each having a tangential bearing-face, and an annular spring mounted on said support and operating to hold said shoes yieldingly in position, substantially as set forth.

5. An electric contact device comprising a rotary support, and an annular series of contact-shoes each of which is pivoted on said support and is heavier on one side of its pivot than the other so that the same will be turned by centrifugal force about its pivot upon rotating the support, substantially as set forth.

6. An electric contact device comprising a rotary support, an annular series of shoes pivoted on the support and a yielding presser device operating to turn said shoes constantly in one direction, substantially as set forth.

7. An electric contact device comprising a rotary support, an annular series of shoes pivoted on the support, andan annular spring arranged to bear against each shoe on one side of its pivot, substantially as set forth.

8. An electric contact device comprising a rotary support havingits periphery constructed in the form of alternate elevations and de pressions, an annular spring resting on said elevations, and an annular series of shoes pivoted on said support and engaging with said spring, substantially as set forth.

9. An electric contact device comprising a rotary support having an annular channel in its periphery the bottom of said channel being constructed to form alternate elevations and depressions, an annular series of shoes arranged lengthwise in said channel and each pivoted opposite one of said elevations, and an annular spring resting on said elevations and engaging with said shoes on one side of their pivots, substantially as set forth.

10. An electric contact device comprising a rotary support having an annular channel, the bottom of said channel being constructed to form alternate elevations and depressions', an annular series of shoes arranged in said channel and each having a straight longitudinal bearing-face on its outer side, transverse pivotpins each connecting one of said shoes between IOO lIO

rmasse Y its .ends to said support above one of said elevations, and an annular spring resting on said elevations and engaging one end of each shoe and tending constantly to tilt the saine so that its hearing-face stands obliquely relatively to the periphery of said support, substantially as set forth. v

11. An electric contact device comprising a single rotary support, and an annular series of contact-shoes pivoted directly on said support and having their opposing ends overlapping one another but not connected, substantially as set forth.

12. An electric contact device comprising a single rotary support, and an annular series of disconnected contact-shoes pivoted directly on said support and each having a tongue and a recess at opposite ends, the several shoes being arranged so that the tongue of one enters the recess of another,suhstantially as set forth.

13. An electriccontact device comprising a rim, two annular flanges arranged on opposite sides of the rim, one of said-flanges being formed integrally with the rirn while the other is detachably connected therewith, and an annular series of bearing-shoes pivoted between said flanges, substantially as set forth.

Witness my hand this 22d day of September,- 1904.

ROBERT W. FARRINGTON.

Witnesses:

THEO. L. Pori), E. M. GRAHAM. 

